Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-05-05
TO HELP THE POOR.
An Anti-Poverty Society Formed I'm New
Work.

YORK.
The antl-poverty society, of which DR..
McGlynn Is president and Henry George
vice-president held the first public meet
ing at Chickering hall in New York on
Sunday, the LIST inst The hall was packed
to overlooking and on the platform were q
large number Of leaders of the united labor
party. Henry George presided and I'm the
opening address said:
The presence of such large audience
at the first meeting of the anti-poverty So
ciety shows that there Is widespread
feeling in the community against the So
cial crime Of poverty. In starting this So
ciety we do not propose to form church.
There are already churches enough in the
community. There Is nothing sectarian
in the platform of the society. All creeds
are welcome. If Archbishop COTrigan
chooses to join he Is welcome, and If Rob-
ert Ingersoll desires to become a member
| he is welcome also. propose to arouse
| the religious sentiment in men and women
to help each other and to do what charity
cannot do. We hold that the poverty that
| is i'm the heart of our cities does not arise
| from the niggardliness of the Creator, but
from mans sinfulness. We will preach
the doctrine of him who said, 'lnasmuch
as we have done it unto the least of these,
We have done it unto me, " not like those
who try to prosecute the men who stand
up for the rights of the poor.
| While Mr.. George was speaking DIR.
McGlynn stepped upon the platform.
Every man and woman rose in their seats
and the greatest enthusiasm reigned for
several minutes. When quiet was re-
stored DIR. McGlynn stepped to the read
ing desk and said:
| 1 infansnIu n St nd
here tonight on a historic platform. The
founders of this society in years to come
will look back upon tO-night's meeting
with pleasure and satisfaction. 1t is not
amiss that |, priest of Christ, should
stand here to speak of the cause which
proposes to abolish this hOrrid crime of
poverty, which is an injustice to man and
| i'm violation of the laws of God. | would
be recreant to my sacred priesthood If
| should falter to speak the word which i
am commanded by my Lord and Master to
speak. Surely, my friends, 1t should hard
ly be necessary for priest to apologize
for loving the poor, for teaching men bet
ter law as Christ taught-the equality of
men-because all are children of COM
mon father.
The laws of nature require us to work
| Work is not entirely a curse. God i'll
| tended ii TO be an enjoyable part of man S
education. Labor Is not a bad thing. 1t
is a necessity; it is the fruitful source of
all great things and noble aspirations.
The teacher or preacher who would rob
men of what God has given them is a sac
religious thief and care not who he may
| be.
The solution of all moral questions must
begin by the repeating of the law that con-
dennis mems poverty Men who call
themselves followers of Him who loved the
poor, land God forgive them, " if preachers
of Christ, find 1t in their hearts to tell us
| that we are SHINING against God, that we
are invading the sacred rights of property
when we take ii into our hearts to say that
this thing has been going on long enough.
DIR. McGlynn in closing said that he al
ways intended to remain Catholic and, to
preach Catholic doctrine and try and bring
back religion to the world. "ReligiOn will
never be right until we shall see demo-
cratic Pope walking down Broadway with
stove-pipe hat on his head and earring an
umbrella under his arm. In my opinion
that man will be the greatest of Popes.
! Instead of having men carry him on their
shoulders, he will have the laugh on them,
for he will carry them in his heart.
The society proposed to hold meetings
every Sunday night at Chckering Hall.